The NRL finals in 2021 are breaking new ground with all matches to be played in Queensland for the first time and Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium hosting the grand final.
The Rabbitohs beat Manly in the first preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium to book their spot in the decider.
The Panthers then avenged last year's grand final loss with a 10-6 win over the Storm in an epic preliminary final.
The Panthers and Rabbitohs will meet for the first time in a grand final.
Brisbane will be the location for the premiership decider on Sunday, October 3. Suncorp also hosted the preliminary finals with Mackay the venue for the semi-finals in week two.
The playoffs kicked off with matches at Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Rockhampton.
Don't blink. Or you'll miss the moment that will define the finals.
Wondering about how the play-offs will work, who's playing who, ticketing options or the many ways you can tune in?
Read on for all the information you'll need to stay across every detail as the race for this year's title heats up. The NRL Premiership celebrates 20 years of naming rights partnership with Telstra in 2021.
Reduced capacity for grand final
- The NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final will be played in front of a capped crowd of 39,000 at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday night after Queensland Public Health Orders reduced capacity to 75%
- The NRL & Ticketek will automatically refund tickets to the final 25% of fans who purchased seats in each Grand Final selling allocation and will be contacted as soon as possible
- The NRL understand that these changes to the schedule will impact many but hope the community will understand that the decision is out of our hands
- All patrons who do attend will also be required to wear a mask at all times, including when seated
- For anyone wishing to request a refund, please submit a request here
Preliminary finals partner activations
NRL Partners will be offering fun for the entire family with from face painting to KFC feasts. Get to the game early and check out all the activations.
Ampol Mini Petrol Station
- Get your photo with the Ampol State of Origin Shield
- Pass the ball comp & face painting
CUB Precinct Bar
- Double decker bar in precinct. Enjoy some of your favourite brews before the game.
VB Deck
- On Saturday, fans who purchase a beer from the CUB Precinct Bar will be in the chance to get an upgrade to the VB Deck ( Image attached)
Kentucky Fried Chicken Run
- 2 lucky fans will be plucked from the crowd to participate in the Kentucky Friend Chicken Run during half-time of each preliminary finals match.
Fans will race for their chance to win up to $500 in Kentucky Fried Chicken.
KFC Surprise & Delight
- Get to the game early, with KFC giving away $2500 in Kentucky Fried GOLD to a lucky fan in the stand prior to kick-off.
Finals week 1 schedule
Friday, September 10
Qualifying final: Melbourne v Manly, 7.50pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium
Match Highlights: Storm v Sea Eagles
Saturday, September 11
Elimination final: Sydney Roosters v Gold Coast, 5.40pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Match Highlights: Roosters v Titans
Qualifying final: Penrith v South Sydney, 7.50pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Match Highlights: Panthers v Rabbitohs
Sunday, September 12
Elimination final: Parramatta v Newcastle, 4.05pm at Browne Park, Rockhampton.
Match Highlights: Eels v Knights
Week two finals fixtures
Semi-final 1 - Friday, September 17: Manly v Roosters, 7.50pm at BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Match Highlights: Sea Eagles v Roosters
Semi-final 2 - Saturday, September 18: Penrith v Parramatta, 7.50pm at BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Match Highlights: Panthers v Eels
Week three finals fixtures
Preliminary final 1 - Friday, September 24: South Sydney v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, 7.50pm at Suncorp Stadium
Match Highlights: Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles
Preliminary final 2 - Saturday, September 25: Melbourne v Penrith Panthers, 4.00pm at Suncorp Stadium
Match Highlights: Storm v Panthers
Grand final
Sunday October 3: Panthers v Rabbitohs, 7.30pm at Suncorp Stadium
Match: Panthers v Rabbitohs
Grand Final -
home Team
Panthers
2nd Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
3rd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
How does the finals format work?
The teams that finished in the top eight positions on the Telstra Premiership ladder after 25 rounds will play out the finals series, as follows.
If you want to explore all possibilities over the coming month, use the NRL Ladder Predictor.
Week 1
Qualifying finals: 1st v 4th; 2nd v 3rd
Elimination finals: 5th v 8th; 6th v 7th
Week 2
Semi-finals: Loser of first qualifying final v winner of first elimination final; loser of second qualifying final v winner of second elimination final
Week 3
Preliminary finals: Winner of first qualifying final v winner of second semi-final; Winner of second qualifying final v winner of first semi-final
Week 4
Grand final: Winner of first preliminary final v winner of second preliminary final
Tickets
With the expected high demand for tickets during the finals, fans are encouraged to join the waitlist to hear when tickets go on sale at nrl.com/waitlist.
- Tickets to Week 3 Preliminary Finals are available now from nrl.com/tickets
- Finals ticket prices start from $25 for adults
- The first release of grand final tickets have sold out. A second release of supporter bays for the teams who make the decider will be released on Monday, September 27 with Club Members accessing the tickets at 10am and any remaining seats going on sale to the general public at 4pm.
- All tickets can be secured through nrl.com/tickets
- NRL Hospitality packages to the grand final are on sale now at nrl.com/hospitality* A one-off handling fee per transaction applies on all purchases. Until category allocation is exhausted.
Engage via social
Follow @nrl on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest need-to-know Finals information.
How to tune in: Broadcast information
All games will be broadcast live in Australia on the Nine Network and Fox League. Matches will also be shown on Kayo Sports and 9Now. In New Zealand, Sky Sport will broadcast the finals.
International viewers can see the games via WatchNRL, which is not available in Australia, New Zealand or Pacific regions.
